Multiple use chair



June 1966 E; SUURONEN MULTIPLE USE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18. 1965 INVENTOR.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1965 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,255,344 MULTIPLE USE CHAIR Edwin Suuronen, 501 Melvin Road, Utica, N.Y. Filed Feb. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 433,718 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-182) This invention relates to a multiple use chair and, more particularly, to a childs high chair designed for a variety of uses.

One of the many problems confronting mothers with small children is that of washing the childs hair without allowing soap or detergent to enter the childs eyes. This is particularly difficult when the child must bend forward over a basin in order that the hair may be Washed and the usual high chair does not provide a head support to allow rearward reclining. In fact, the average childs high chair is strictly limited in the uses to which it may be put and, therefore, the useful life of such a chair is much shorter than its physical life. Once a child has outgrown the chair, its service life is over and it must be disposed of, or relegated to storage until such time as it may be used again. Even though the use factor of a high chair is small, one will often find homes that have both a kitchen stool and a high chair. Since these articles have a number of common features, it would be desirable to eliminate the necessity of having both-thereby avoiding the wastefulness inherent in duplication.

It would also be desirable to simplify certain features of a high chair and thus achieve reduction in cost and simpler operation. For example, most high chairs either have pivoted feeding trays which are always attached to the chairs or they have clamp-on types which require two separate clamps to secure each tray. A simplified removable tray structure would thus be of commercial value.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a multiple use childs high chair. Other objects are to provide such a high chair which is particularly adapted to support a child in a convenient position to assist in washing the childs hair; to provide such a chair which has a reclining back; to provide such a chair which may be easily converted to a kitchen stool, either with or without a back; and to provide such a chair which has an easily detachable feeding tray.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are achieved will be more apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the figures of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a high chair in accordance with the invention, shown in position for washing a childs hair;

FIG. 2 illustrates the high chair of FIG. 1 with the arms removed to form a kitchen stool, the back being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the chair of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating its mechanical construction;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the chair of FIG. 3, portions being broken away to illustrate its construction;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

The objects of this invention are achieved by means of a high chair having a reclining back with a curved top portion, both the back and the arms of the chair being removable for converting it to use as a kitchen stool.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a high chair positioned for washing a childs hair at sink S. The chair includes a tubular left side frame 10 and a tubular right side frame 12, each of the side frames being roughly in the form of an inverted U, the horizontal portion supporting a seat 14 therebetween. The legs are formed by the vertical portions of the side frames and are stabilized by a front stretcher 16 and arear stretcher 18. As the stretch- 3,255,344 Patented June 7, 19616 ers are permanently secured to the legs, they may be affixed by means of bolts, welding, or other suitable means. Detachably mounted on the top of side frame 10 is a left arm 20, and a right arm 22 is similarly mounted on right side frame 12. The right and left arms are secured to the leg portions of the corresponding side frames by means of bolts 24 which extend through the leg portions. A removable foot rest 26 is also mounted between the front legs of the chair by any of the means which are well-known to the prior art. Pivotally secured at the juncture between seat 14 and the rear legs formed by left side frame 10 and right side frame 12 is a reclining backrest 28 having an outwardly curved neck rest portion 28a along its upper edge.

The structural details of the invention and, particularly the reclining mechanism of the backrest 28 will be most clearly apparent from FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. From these illustrations it will be noted that backrest 28 is provided with a downwardly depending left mounting bracket 30 and a downwardly depending right mounting bracket 32. Each mounting bracket defines a circular pivot opening 34 and is turned inwardly at its lower end to form a stud 39a, 32a. Although the seat may be formed in a number of ways it is shown in the drawings as of metal "and including -a depending side rim 3-8. Mounted against the side rim 38 at the left side of seat 14 is the elongated arm 40a of a U sh-aped left locking bracket 40. The bracket is positioned so that the shorter arm 40b is positioned beneath seat 14. A similar but reversed right locking bracket 42 is secured to the opposite side of seat 14 by its longer arm 42a, its shorter arm 4211 being positioned beneath seat 14. A cylinderical spacer 44 separates left locking bracket 40 from mounting bracket 30 and, at its outer end, spacer 44 is turned down to provide a bearing surface 46 mounted within pivot opening 34. The length of hearing surface 46 is slightly longer than the thickness of mounting bracket 30 and .a retainer 48 separates the spacer 44 from the side frame 10 and maintains pivot opening 34 in bearing engagement with bearing surface 46. A bolt 50 passes through aligned openings in each of the side frame 10, retainer '48, spacer 44, left locking bracket 40 and side rim 38 and these elements are clamped tightly together by means of nut 52. As the mechanical details of the right side of the back pivoting arrangement are similar to those of the left side, although reversed, they will not be described in detail. However,

similar elements, where visible, are given similar referenoe numerals but with a prime attached. The arm 40a of left locking bracket 40 defines an arcuate slot 54 into which stud 30a extends. \Left lock-ing bracket 40 includes an opening positioned between slot 54 and.

bolt 50 in which is mounted an inwardly extending cylindrical sleeve '56. A spring loaded rod 58 passes through sleeve 56, its outer .end being disposed for engagement with a hole 60 in left mounting bracket 30. Rod 58 is grooved to support a C-washer 62 at a fixed axial location thereon. This location is such that, when the end of rod 58 extends through hole'60 as illustrated in FIG. 6, washer :62 is positioned against the inner end of sleeve 56. A compression spring 64, mounted between inner arm 40b of locking bracket 40 and washer 62. assures that the end of rod 58 remains within the hole 60. From FIG. 4 it will be noted that the locking rods 58, 58' of the left and right looking bracket-s extend inwardly towards one another and that each terminate in a disc-like head portion 66 (66). These portions are disposed far enough apart that they may both be engaged by one hand of an adult but not that of a child.

It has been previously explained that the bracket 28 include-s a curved neck rest portion 28a along its upper edge. This curved portion is designed to engage the rim of a sink S, as shown in FIG. 1, by reclining the back. In this position it is a relatively simple matter for a mother to wash a childs hair in the sink, the head being laid backward in the manner most likely to prevent soap or detergent from reaching the childs eyes. The seat is reclined by grapsing the heads 66, 66' between the thumb and fingers of one hand and squeezing.

This forces rods 58, 58 inwardly against the tension of springs 64, 64- and disengages their ends from the holes 60 in left mounting bracket 30 and the corresponding hole in right mounting bracket 32. When the rods are disengaged, the back is lowered by the free hand until the curved portion 28a rests against the edge of the sink. It will also be observed that the slot 54 serves as a limit stop in that the arcuate travel of stud 30a, (32a) is limited thereby. Thus, it is impossible to injure the child by accidentally dropping the back. Slot 54 also permits the angle of recline to be limited in order to prevent overturning of the chair when the childs weight is on the reclined back rest.

The means for attaching a feeding tray to the chair of this invention is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. From these figures it will be noted that each of left arms 20 and right arms 22 is provided with a short downwardly depending stud 68, 68'. A feeding tray 70 is of a size to fit between arms Y20 and '22 and includes a side rim 72 which extends outwardly over the top of each arm. The undersu-rface of rim '72 at the right end of tray 70 carries an outwardly directed hook 74 which defines an opening for engaging stud 68' on arm 22. Mounted on the undersurfiace of rim 72 at the left end of tray 70 is a spring clip including a main body 76 which is secured to rim 72 and carries a pivot pin 78 upon which is pivotally mounted an L-shaped clamping member including a finger grip portion 80 and a curved, arm-engaging, portion 82 which defines a slot 84 having a width greater than that of stud 68. It will thus be seen that, in order to securely attach the feeding tray, it is merely necessary to engage the hook 74 with the stud 68 in right arm 22, and the left end of tray 70 being in a raised position while this is being done. The tray is then lowered and pivoted about the arm 22, the spring clip being squeezed against the force of spring 8d until the curved portion 82 clears the left arm 20. When the tray is in position, the spring clip is released, causing it to engage the stud '68. The tray is thus secured against forward, backward and vertical motion.

In order to convert the high chair to a kitchen stool having a backrest, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 2-4 securing the left arm 20 and the right arm 22 and to remove the foot rest 26. The chair will then present the appearance shown in FIG. 2. The backrest 28 is indicated in broken lines as it, too, is removable. The backrest is removed by loosening :bolt 50 (50) and removing nut 52 (FIG. 6). This allows the bolt to be withdrawn andthe retainer 48 to be removed. With the rod 58 (58') retracted, the left mounting bracket 30 and the right mounting bracket 32 may each be released by slightly springing them to disengage the studs 30a, 32a from the slots '54. I When the back has been removed, the bolt 50, retainer 48, spacer 4'4, and bolt 50 may be replaced. In this manner a very useful backless kitchen stool is obtained.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that all the objectives set forth above have been achieved by means of the invention herein described. It will also be apparent that a number of variations and modifications may be made in this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, in the foregoing description, the curved neck rest portion 28a is shown and described as being integral with backrest 28. The curved portion 28a could also be separately formed and either hinged or detachably secured to the top of the backrest.

4%- Other modifications will also suggest themselves readily to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A childs high chair comprising: a plurality of legs; a seat supported by said legs; first and second arms positioned above and on opposite sides of said seat to enclose a seated child therebetween; a reclining backrest pivotally mounted relative to said seat and including a backwardly curved upper portion positioned to simultaneously support the neck and head of a child and rest on the edge of a sink; and adjusting means for selectively positioning said backrest between a substantially upright position and a reclined position.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein said arms are removable.

3. The chair of claim 1 wherein said backrest is removable.

4. A childs high chair comprising: a plurality of legs; a seat supported by said legs; first and second arms positioned above and on opposite sides of said seat to enclose a seated chlid therebetween; a reclining backrest pivotally relative to said seat and including first and second spaced mounting brackets depending downwardly therefrom, said mounting brackets being positioned on opposite sides of said seat and pivotally mounted thereon, the lower ends of said brackets extending below said seat and defining aligned openings therein; a first locking bracket positioned adjacent the lower end of said first mounting bracket; a second locking bracket positioned adjacent the lower end of said second mounting bracket; spring-loaded manually operated first locking rod means retained in said first locking bracket for movement into and out of the opening in said first mounting bracket when said backrest is in its upright position; spring-loaded manually operated second locking rod means retained in said second locking bracket for movement into and out of the opening in said second mounting bracket when said backrest is in its upright position; and limit means for limiting the pivotal movement of said backrest to its reclined position.

5. The chair of claim 4 wherein said limit means comprises an arcuate slot defined by at least one of said locking brackets and a stud on the corresponding mounting bracket extending into said slot.

6. The chair of claim 4- wherein each of said first and second locking rod means extends inwardly of said chair and includes finger grip portions spaced for one-handed simultaneous retraction of both of said locking rod means from said openings.

7. The chair of claim 4 wherein each of said locking brackets is a substantially U-shaped strap having first and second spaced arms, said arms defining aligned locking rod openings therein, and a coil spring positioned between said arms and encircling said locking rod means to resiliently urge said locking rod means outwardly toward said mounting bracket.

8. A childs high chair comprising: a plurality of legs; a seat supported by said legs; first and second arms positioned above and on opposite sides of said seat to enclose a seated child therebetween; a downwardly extending stud depending from each of said arms; a detachable feeding tray positionable between said arms and including a rim portion extendable over each of said arms; a fixed hook member on the underside of said rim portion engageable with one of said arms and defining a first recess for receiving one of said studs; a manually operable spring clip member on the underside of said rim portion to engage the other of said arms and defining a second recess for receiving the other of said studs; a reclining backrest pivotally mounted relative to said seat; and adjusting means for selectively positioning said back- W rest between a substantially upright position and a reclined position.

9. A chlids high chair comprising: a plurality of legs; a seat supported by said legs; first and second removeable arms positioned above and on opposite sides of said seat to enclose a seated child therebetween; a downwardly extending stud depending from each of said arms; a detachable feeding tray positionable between said arms and including a rim portion extendable over each of said arms; a hook member on the underside of said rim portion engageable with one of said arms and defining a first recess for receiving one of said studs; a manually operable spring clip member on the underside of said rim portion to engage the other of said arms and defining a second recess for receiving the other of said studs; a reclining backrest including a backwardly curved upper portion positioned to simultaneously support the neck and head of a child and rest on the edge of a sink when in the reclined position; first and second spaced mounting brackets depending downwardly from said backrest, said mounting brackets being positioned on opposite sides of said seat and pivotally mounted thereon, the lower portion of each of said brackets extending below said seat and defining aligned locking openings therein, the lower end of each mounting bracket including an inwardly projecting limit stud; a first substantially U- shaped locking bracket having first and second spaced arms defining aligned locking rod openings therethrough, one of said arms being longer than the other and secured to a first side of said seat, said longer arm defining an arcuate slot engaging the limit stud of one of said mounting brackets; a. second substantially U-shaped locking bracket having first and second spaced arms defining locking rod openings therethrough, one of said arms being longer than the other and secured to a second side of said seat; manually operated first locking rod means retained in the locking rod openings of said first locking bracket for movement of a first end thereon into and out of the opening in said first mounting bracket when said backrest is in its upright position, a second end of said first locking rod means including a first finger grip; first spring means resiliently urging said first locking rod means toward said first mounting bracket; manually operated second locking rod means retained in the locking rod openings of said second locking bracket for movement of a first end thereof into and out of the opening in said second mounting bracket when said backrest is in its upright position, a second end of said second locking rod means including a second finger grip spaced from said first finger grip a distance spannable by an adult hand; and second spring means resiliently urging said second locking rod means toward said second mounting bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 811,933 2/1906 Kugel 297- X 825,984 7/1906 Schmersahl 297-153 X 2,560,708 7/1951 Titus 297- X 2,973,804 3/1961 Gill 297-149 X 3,138,400 6/1964 Reid 297-363 X FOREIGN PATENTS 80,259 11/ 1955 Denmark. 464,806 4/ 1937 Great Britain.

58,233 5/ 1953 France. 540,090 2/1956 Italy.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CHILD''S HIGH CHAIR COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF LEGS; A SEAT SUPPORTED BY SAID LEGS; FIRST AND SECOND ARMS POSITIONED ABOVE AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TO ENCLOSE A SEATED CHILD THEREBETWEEN; A RECLINING BACKREST PIVOTALLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT AND INCLUDING A BACKWARDLY CURVED UPPER PORTION POSITIONED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SUPPORT THE NECK AND HEAD OF A CHILD AND REST ON THE EDGE OF A SINK; AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING SAID BACKREST BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSITION AND A RECLINED POSITION. 